From a technical perspective, oil’s uptrend since last summer is clearly still active for now. Brent has failed to break below the 50 SMA from Bands, and there is currently no indication of overbought from either Bollinger Bands (50, 0, 2) or the slow stochastic (15, 5, 5). The key area on this chart for the next few days is likely to be the 100% weekly Fibonacci retracement area, i.e. full retracement of all losses since late January 2020. Apart from Chinese PMI and of course the NFP, traders will continue to look at regular stock data and Baker Hughes’ rig count this week for clues on whether the uptrend might continue.

Key data this week

Bold indicates the most important releases for this symbol.

Tuesday 30 March

• 30 GMT: API crude oil stock change (26 March) – previous 2.93 million

Wednesday 31 March

• 00 GMT: NBS manufacturing PMI (March) – consensus 51.2, previous 50.6
• 30 GMT: EIA crude oil stock change (26 March) – previous 1.91 million

Thursday 1 April

• 45 GMT: Caixin manufacturing PMI (March) – consensus 51.3, previous 50.9
• 00 GMT: Baker Hughes’ oil rig count (1 April) – previous 324

Friday 2 April

• 30 GMT: non-farm payrolls (March) – consensus 655,000, previous 379,000

Dollar-franc, four-hour

As against many other currencies, the dollar has been making gains against the franc overall in 2021 so far as ‘risk on’ remains in vogue and traditional havens have declined. Yields from benchmark decade Treasury bonds have increased significantly and remained above 1.6%. The outlook for economic recovery in the USA has also generally improved over the last few weeks.

Although volume for dollar-franc has not been especially high over the last few weeks, it has been dominated clearly by buying. On the four-hour chart, there is currently no overbought signal: the slow stochastic is closer to neutral than the zone of buying saturation at about 63. The obvious target for buyers is the upper area of the daily Fibonacci fan around 95 centimes, but data this week make an extended consolidation possible, especially in the case of a negative surprise from the NFP.

Key data this week

Bold indicates the most important releases for this symbol.

Tuesday 30 March

• 00 GMT: KOF leading indicators (March) – consensus 104.6, previous 102.7

Wednesday 31 March

• 15 GMT: ADP employment change (March) – consensus 525,000, previous 117,000

Thursday 1 April

• 30 GMT: Swiss annual retail sales (February) – consensus 1.2%, previous negative 0.5%
• 30 GMT: Swiss annual inflation (March) – consensus negative 0.2%, previous negative 0.5%
• 30 GMT: Swiss monthly inflation (March) – consensus 0.4%, previous 0.2%
• 30 GMT: initial jobless claims (27 March) – consensus 680,000, previous 684,000
• 00 GMT: ISM manufacturing PMI (March) – consensus 61.3, previous 60.8

Friday 2 April

• 30 GMT: non-farm payrolls (March) – consensus 655,000, previous 379,000
• 30 GMT: American unemployment rate (March) – consensus 6%, previous 6.2%
• 30 GMT: American annual average hourly earnings (March) – consensus 4.5%, previous 5.3%

Gold-dollar, daily

Gold has made small losses so far this week in the context of its inverse correlation with the US dollar: ongoing high yields from American bonds and a better outlook for the economy have dented sentiment somewhat. Recent declines by gold have also matched losses by haven currencies, primarily the yen and the franc.

Momentum downward for XAUUSD has been somewhat lower since last week when price moved back inside the lower area of the weekly Fibonacci fan. Volume though does not currently confirm the trend, with indications of high demand for buying during bouts of strong losses. A disappointing NFP this week would probably make the value area between the 50 and 100 SMAs the first clear resistance, but to some extent we might also expect Chinese PMI data (see above) to have an effect on the price.

Key data this week

Bold indicates the most important release for this symbol.

Wednesday 31 March

• 15 GMT: ADP employment change (March) – consensus 525,000, previous 117,000

Thursday 1 April

• 30 GMT: initial jobless claims (27 March) – consensus 680,000, previous 684,000
• 00 GMT: ISM manufacturing PMI (March) – consensus 61.3, previous 60.8

Friday 2 April

• 30 GMT: non-farm payrolls (March) – consensus 655,000, previous 379,000
• 30 GMT: American unemployment rate (March) – consensus 6%, previous 6.2%

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